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Atlanta City Council adopts overhaul of inspector general and ethics offices after months of debate
Summary
After weeks of public comment and a task‑force review, the Atlanta City Council on Feb. 17 approved a charter amendment separating governance for the Office of Inspector General and the Ethics Office while adding new procedural safeguards. The vote was 14–1.
The Atlanta City Council voted 14–1 on Feb. 17 to amend the city charter to change the governance and oversight structures for the Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the Ethics Office, a measure the council said implements recommendations from a temporary task force formed last fall.
The measure splits the two offices into separately governed entities, clarifies roles and responsibilities, and adds procedural language about subpoenas, employee interviews and board duties. Council President Doug Shipman called the change a “balanced” response to concerns raised after high‑profile corruption investigations earlier in the decade.
Why it matters: The OIG was created after federal investigations exposed bribery and misuse of public funds. Councilmembers and members of the public said the charter changes were intended to preserve the OIG’s independence while adding clearer rules so investigations and subpoenas conform to existing law and city process.
Council discussion and technical…
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